Why industry must act now

UK industry generates around 53 million tonnes of CO₂ a year, making up about 14% of total national emissions. The government’s aim is for these emissions to drop by ⅓ by 2023 – this means every year now counts.

At the same time, carbon costs are rising through the Emissions Trading Scheme and industrial fuel prices in the UK remain higher than in many competitor countries. This puts extra pressure on margins and future planning.

Flexibility protects your investment

“Choosing adaptable equipment now ensures you remain resilient to changing policies, customer behaviours and a changing climate,” James advises.

Flexible, hydrogen-ready systems are key. Dunphy’s multi fuel burners can switch between natural gas, hydrogen, biogas and blends, helping protect your investment.

Our customers are already seeing the benefit. Kellogg’s, a major food processor, installed our burners and ran on 100% hydrogen for four consecutive weeks without any hardware modifications. This led to a 13.5% reduction in gas consumption & significant electricity savings

Hydrogen fuel is closer than you think

In 2020, hydrogen cost about eight times more than natural gas. By 2023, this fell to around twice the cost. By 2030, cheaper renewables and better technology could see clean hydrogen match the cost of gas plus carbon pricing, transforming the outlook for process heat.

Make your business case clear

A flexible, future-ready approach doesn’t just help cut emissions –  it also makes strong commercial sense.

James recommends starting with a clear, well-evidenced plan that shows stakeholders how low-NOₓ, hydrogen-ready technology can cut long-term costs, protect against carbon price rises and reduce the risk of equipment becoming obsolete.

Businesses should:

  • Carry out a full heat demand audit to size equipment accurately and avoid overspecification.
  • Use available incentives and grants like the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF) or tax allowances to bring down upfront costs and shorten payback periods.
  • Highlight resilience: demonstrate how flexible technology can adapt to future fuels, whether that’s natural gas, hydrogen, biogas or a blend.
  • Back it with real examples, like Dunphy’s proven track record with hydrogen trials at live industrial sites.

This approach helps secure board approval and unlock funding by showing clear financial and risk-reduction benefits alongside sustainability gains.

If you’re not sure on next steps check out our services such as burner consultancy or information on burner upgrades.

Now is the time to act

Acting today means lower emissions, reduced future costs and confidence that your heat systems are ready for what comes next.

To read the full article and learn more about James’ transition to net zero click here

Ready to future-proof your process heat?

Get in touch to find out how we can help.